by Steven Bell & Karen Kohn
For the last several years, Temple University Libraries has systematically purchased ebook copies of textbooks assigned in courses on the main campus. We began doing this in 2017 in response to studies that found students across the country increasingly having difficulty purchasing their required texts, sometimes trying to get through class without a copy of the text or dropping classes if the materials were too expensive. A 2023 survey of Temple students on the affordability of course materials supported the idea that our own students experience similar difficulties. Offering texts as ebooks through the library can help make college more affordable.
“It’s imperative that students have multi-varied access to textbooks so that knowledge can meet them where they are. The availability of an e-version for this class textbook was explicitly requested by a student who needs to make text larger in order to effectively read it. By offering these books, Temple University Libraries is making education more accessible financially and physically.”
Tara Pixley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Journalism, Klein College of Media + Communication
The Libraries obtain information from the bookstore each semester about which texts faculty are using. We then compare the list from the bookstore against the current library collection to determine which books we already have and then look up the remaining titles on a purchasing platform to verify which are available for purchase. There are some limits to what we can provide for students. We attempt to buy licenses that allow multiple users to view a book simultaneously, but sometimes these are either unavailable or unaffordable. When we cannot purchase a multiuser license, we will enter into an agreement that allows only one user at a time.
“Thank you! This is wonderful news. It is a specialized book and is thus expensive.”
Maurice Wright, Laura H. Carnell Professor, Boyer College of Music and Dance: Music Studies
Some books are not available for libraries to purchase electronically at all, usually those from traditional textbook publishers such as Pearson or McGraw-Hill. Between current holdings and new purchases, we are typically able to provide access to approximately 35% of course-assigned texts each semester. Even this relatively low percentage has the potential to save students significant amounts of money.
“This is wonderful news! Thank you so much for sharing. I have added this to the syllabus.”
Yemele’ Ayala, Adjunct Assistant Professor, College of Education and Human Development: Psychological Studies
Since offering library-licensed ebooks only helps if students know we have them, the Libraries have several strategies for raising student and faculty awareness. We are excited this semester to offer a simple and regularly updated list on our website of the etextbooks that we provide for the current semester. The list is available at https://library.temple.edu/etextbooks and is shown in the image below.
“Thank you for the direct link. I have added it to my Canvas home page, my syllabus and discussed it with the students. Both my students and myself greatly value the free access to learning materials.”
Natalie Flynn, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Science and Technology
Another strategy for raising the visibility of the Libraries’ etextbooks has been sending customized emails to faculty. If the Libraries have a copy of your text, you will receive an email near the start of the semester letting you know. You can then help make your students aware of library etextbooks by linking to them in your Canvas course or mentioning the library access in your syllabus.
“The Etextbook was a great option for students in my class. One student actually made me aware of this project. I am glad they did.”
Mark Salzer, Ph.D., Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, College of Liberal Arts
If you choose to adopt a library ebook as a required or recommended course material, consider submitting that adoption to the bookstore’s Adoption Information Portal (AIP). This will enable students, at the time of course registration, to see that a section they are considering offers access to all or some course materials at no cost. It will also let the Libraries know that the book has been assigned, so we can add it to the etextbook page. Mark the book as “Wait for Class” so that students who see it listed on the bookstore site will know to wait for additional information from you before purchasing. You can even add a note explaining that the ebook is available through the library. See Steven Bell and April Batinsey’s previous Herald article for more information on the AIP.
“Thank you – this is a big help!”
Rita Krueger, Ph.D. (she/hers), Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of History, College of Liberal Arts
If you have questions about library etextbooks or other ways to make your courses more affordable, please contact OpenEd@temple.edu. Someone from the Libraries’ Open Education Group will be glad to help you.
